DIN ISO 17604:2011-01

The responsible Working Committee of the NAL has decided to adopt the International Standard ISO 17604 into the German body of standards. The reason for the national adoption is the fact that the method given in standard ISO 17604 is quoted in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria as the reference method to be applied for carcass sampling. The responsible international Committee decided to add an Annex D on the sampling of poultry carcasses. This document also includes this amendment. It is generally agreed that the determination of microbial counts and the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms on carcasses is essential for monitoring and verification in risk-based slaughter hygiene assurance systems (for example, those employing the hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) principles and quality assurance systems). Moreover, many institutes are involved in international surveillance programmes on the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms. The design of such monitoring and surveillance programmes will obviously benefit from the use of standardized and internationally accepted sampling procedures. This International Standard specifies sampling methods for the detection and enumeration of microorganisms on the carcass surface of freshly slaughtered animals. The microbiological sampling can be carried out as part of - the process control in slaughter establishments for cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats and game raised in captivity, - risk-based assurance systems for product safety, and - surveillance programmes for the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms. This International Standard includes the use of destructive and non-destructive techniques. It does not consider the use of sampling plans. The standard has the character of a basic standard with general specifications for sampling of carcasses. It deals with aspects of health protection and product safety. The Committee responsible for this standard is Working Committee NA 057-01-06 AA "Mikrobiologische Lebensmitteluntersuchung einschließlich Schnellverfahren" ("Microbiological analysis of foodstuffs including rapid method") of NAL.